Thursday, February 26, 2009

Rolling Up Our Sleeves: Answering Hard Questions

During this time of transition and interim period before we find a settled pastor we must, as a congregation, consider who we are and what we want to be. We must refine our mission, clarify our vision for this congregation, and then take the necessary steps to “be the change we want to see in the world.” This requires us to roll up our sleeves and put our thinking hats on as we answer some thought-provoking questions. Below you will find a few questions which the church will work hard to answer over the coming weeks. We encourage you to post comments to the questions below or contact Sara Sharpe, First Central’s Office Manager, as soon as possible. Your feedback will help us as we begin our quest for a settled pastor; it will give the search committee the necessary information so they can best select a leader who complements our strengths and weaknesses, pushes us forward, and nurtures this wonderful church family.
  1. What do we want in our next minister?
  2. What type of leadership and help do we expect from our next minister?
  3. What do we want him or her to know about us?
  4. Are we the church we want to be?
  5. Where do we want our church to head in the future?
  6. What should we work on during this interim period? Are there issues or obstacles that need to be addressed now?
  7. Are there changes we’d like to make, or new directions we want to go since April 2004, when we completed our strategic plan and identity study?

Monday, February 16, 2009

What Jesus and Darwin Have In Common: Reflections of An Evolutionary Biologist

Did you know? -- Charles Darwin was born 200 years ago, and 2009 is also the 150th anniversary year of the publication of his Origin of the Species. This backdrop provides a rich opportunity for serious discussion and reflection upon the relationship between religion and science. Countryside Community Church, First Central's UCC Sister Church, is celebrating Evolution Weekend 2009 by hosting Dr. Joan Roughgarden, Professor of Biological Sciences at Stanford University. She will present a lecture entitled:

What Jesus and Darwin Have In Common: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist

“I’m an evolutionary biologist and a Christian,” states Stanford professor Joan Roughgarden at the outset of her groundbreaking book, Evolution and Christian Faith: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist. Speaking from that perspective to audiences everywhere, she offers an elegant, deeply satisfying reconciliation of the theory of evolution and the wisdom of the Bible. Perhaps only someone with Roughgarden's unique academic standing could examine so well controversial issues such as the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, or the potential flaws in Darwin's theory of evolution. Roughgarden has scoured the Bible and scanned the natural world, finding examples time and again, not of conflict, but of harmony. In the ongoing debates over creationism, intelligent design and evolution, her lecture will be seen as a message of major significance, for those bright and thoughtful people who wonder how or if they can embrace scientific advances while maintaining their traditional values. Roughgarden holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard University, and is currently Professor of Biological Sciences and of Geophysics at Stanford University.

When:
Thursday, February 26, at 7:00 pm.

Where:
Countryside Community Church located at 8787 Pacific Street.

Cost:
Tickets for this event are available in the Narthex or during weekday office hours. Suggested donation is $10.

This lecture will be followed by a Q and A session and book-signing. For more information contact, Cyndi Kugler, Director of the Center for Faith Studies at Countryside Community Church at 391-0350x121 or cyndik@countrsideucc.org.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Ways to make YOUR neighborhood better: 2009 Neighborhood Builders Sessions

The Neighborhood Center of Omaha and Council Bluffs invite you to the Neighborhood Builders 2009 Workshop Sessions- “Better Futures Are Built on Better Neighborhoods.”

What: Neighborhood Builders is a community effort led by the Neighborhood Center, The University of Nebraska at Omaha, neighborhood associations, businesses, foundations and private citizens. The goal of the Neighborhood Builders is to help build stronger, healthier neighborhoods in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties by assisting in developing positive local leadership.

Who: Anyone interested in making neighborhoods safe places in which live, work and raise families should participate. These sessions are perfect for new association board members or newly elected leaders.

How: Community leaders, educators, business persons, and your neighbors will facilitate the session blocks. We promise sessions will be interesting and interactive. Our goal is to make these topics useful to you in everyday life. Your newly acquired skills will help at work, home and in your neighborhood community.

2009 Topic Blocks:
  • February 2, 2009- Assets in Your Neighborhood
  • February 14, 2009- Inclusiveness in Your Neighborhood
  • February 21, 2009- Social Advocacy
  • February 28, 2009- Conflict Mediation (followed by an open house)
When: Each Saturday during the month of February from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. Continental breakfast and networking session begins at 8:00 am.

Where: The Neighborhood Center
115 South 49th Avenue
Omaha, NE 68132

To register or for more information, please contact, Ronald Abdouch, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Center at (402)561-7582 or rabdouch@mail.unomaha.edu.

About the Neighborhood Center
The Neighborhood Center (NC) is a community-based, neighborhood-driven organization administered by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. NC provides information and assistance to neighborhood associations to enable them to come together and develop their own leadership and decision-making structure and effectively address the issues affecting the quality of life in their communities. NC works directly with residents in the tri-county area, including those who are members of neighborhood associations, homeowners associations, business associations, coalitions, community development corporations, churches, and other not-for-profit groups. The mission of the Neighborhood Center is to build capacity and strengthen neighborhoods throughout Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties.To learn more, visit our website at http://www.unomaha.edu/ncenter/.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

COMMUNITY CONFERENCE ON FAITH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Project Interfaith and the Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke Center for the Study of Religion and Society present:

A Community Conference on Faith and the Environment:
Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Native American Ways of Approaching Environmental Issues


When: Sunday, March 29, 2009, 1:00-5:00 pm (check-in begins at 12:30 pm)

Location: Harper Center Ballroom at Creighton University, located at 602 North 20th Street
(Free parking is available in the Visitors Lot adjacent to the Harper Center on 20th and California Street)

What: Join us as we explore how different religions and belief systems view the environment and our role in it – especially when it comes to caring for it. Hear from four proactive scholars who are active in environmental issues as they speak on how their beliefs have shaped their attitudes and actions towards the environment. Put your beliefs into action by getting connected with local environmental initiatives at our information fair. Participants also will have the opportunities throughout the conference to dialogue with each other about these issues. Light refreshment will be served.

Featured Speakers:
  • Dr. Terry Wimberley: A Christian Perspective
  • Dr. Sandra Beth Lubarsky: A Jewish Perspective
  • Dr. Safei-Eldin A. Hamed: A Muslim Perspective
  • Dr. Rudi Mitchel: A Native American Perspective

Cost: This program is open to the public and offered at no charge, thanks to generous funding from the Kripke Center and the Special Donor-Advised Fund at the Jewish Federation Foundation.

Pre-registration is strongly suggested as space is limited. To register, contact Fran Minear at the Kripke Center at (402) 280-2303 or email fminear@creighton.edu.
To view a map of Creighton’s Harper Center, please click the following link:
http://www2.creighton.edu/harpercenter/parking/index.php

This program is part of Project Interfaith’s 2008-2009 Community Conversation Annual Speaker Series. Please share this with others who may be interested. Thank you!

About Project Interfaith
Project Interfaith serves as a leader and resource on interfaith and religious diversity issues. We work with religious groups, educators, corporations, and all members of the community to promote a deeper understanding of and respect for religious diversity. We offer innovative, community-building programs that educate and engage audiences on issues of faith, religion, identity, and interfaith relations. For more information, visit our blog at http://projectinterfaith.blogspot.com or call (402) 933-4647.